better off than republicans if we go over the fiscal cliff. they have leverage from the campaign. that's the directionion -- speaker boehner today kept the door open to raising rates on the wealthy as part of a negotiating plan. >> at the white house, what are you hearing as to how much flexibility the president thinks he has? >> it's interesting. i had an interesting conversation yesterday with senator sheldon, white house democrat from rhode island, on the senate budget committee, he said look if we go through january 1st without a deal, it's not the end of the world. it will be the end of the world if they never get resolved. if they don't get resolved until mid january or february we'll be okay. from the white house and democrats we want a deal but not afraid to go past this deadline without a deal as susan said, they know they have the upper hand and waiting for republicans to bend. >> you've been looking at this from the per spective the wise men who used to be in leadership and take a look at what happened you wrote about mitch mcconnel